In a nutshell
This study evaluated how common climacturia (urine leakage during orgasm) is in patients treated for prostate cancer. It also investigated the causes of climacturia and if it impacts on sexual satisfaction.
Some background
Patients with prostate cancer are commonly treated with surgery and/or radiotherapy. The success of treatment is very high and the risk of complications after surgery is relatively low. However, patients can report sexually related side effects after treatment. These side effects can include erectile dysfunction (difficulty in achieving or maintaining an erection), anorgasmia (inability to have an orgasm) or dysorgasmia (painful orgasms). One less well studied side effect is climacturia. The number of patients who experience climacturia, the causes or the impact it has on sexual function is not clear.
Methods & findings
A total of 906 anonymous surveys were sent to patients who had been treated for prostate cancer. Respondents were asked about the presence of urine leakage, climacturia and various elements related to sexual and orgasmic function.
Overall 412 patients (45.5%) returned their surveys. Of these patients 75.2% were sexually active or experiencing orgasms. Climacturia was reported by 22.6% of the sexually active patients. The odds of experiencing climacturia were 3.94 times higher after surgery than after radiation. Climacturia was reported in 28.3% of patients treated with surgery, 5.2% of patients treated with radiotherapy and 28.6% of those treated with both.
Patients with urinary incontinence had 3.09 times greater risk of experiencing climacturia than patients with no urinary incontinence. Climacturia had no significant impact on orgasmic function and satisfaction.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that a substantial proportion of men experience climacturia after surgical prostate removal. They also report that this does not negatively impact sexual satisfaction.
Published By :
Journal of Urology
Date :
Sep 16, 2013
